Like every other
human endeavor, the exploration of the universe takes place in the context of
our terrestrial environment. As human activity changes that environment, issues
are raised for both astronomers and those who enjoy the fruits of their research.
In this resource list, we examine four areas where the environment and the needs
of astronomers meet: the problems caused by the uncontrolled growth of city
lights; the issue of reconciling the need of new observatory sites with the
safeguarding of endangered species; the difficulty of protecting the frequencies
(channels) needed for radio astronomy from the encroachment of cellular phones
and other forms of radio communication on Earth; and the thorny problem of how
we protect other planets from Earth micro-organisms and the Earth from possible
extra-terrestrial microbes. Additions to this list are most welcome.

Few places on
Earth remain truly dark as human civilization and its electric lights spread
across the globe. For astronomers, trying to collect the faint light of distant
objects, this "light pollution" has become a serious problem. Some lights are
worse than others in terms of the number of colors (wavelengths) they block
from celestial objects. The sources below describe the attempts to balance the
needs of cities with the requirements of observatories, and the work astronomers
are doing to educate political leaders and the public about this issue.

Readings

Crawford, D. &
Hunter, T. "The Battle Against Light Pollution" in Sky & Telescope, July
1990, p. 23. A fine review of the current status of problems and solution.

Crawford, D. &
Robinson, W. Light Pollution: Problems and Solutions. 1990, Astronomical
Society of the Pacific. A set of 20 slides and a 24-page information booklet
to help teach and inform about the issues.

Davidson, K. "Hype
in Space: Billboards and Other Threats to the Dark" in Mercury, May/June 1993,
p. 80.

Sullivan, W. "Our
Endangered Night Skies" in Sky & Telescope, May 1984, p. 412. On how
the pollution in light and radio waves can be detected from space.

Taubes, G. "Twinkle,
Twinkle, Great Big Bauble" in Discover, Nov. 1987, p. 60. On the ring
of light the French had proposed putting into space.

Web
Sites

International
Dark-Sky Association (IDA)
- this non-profit organization works to inform the public about light pollution
and to minimize its effects; their web site is a treasure-trove of information,
advocacy, and news.

Sky
& Telescope Light Pollution Notes
- has the text of relevant articles from the magazine (for amateur astronomers)
and a set of notes updating issues around the world by contributing editor
Fred Schaaf.

While many new
observatories must now file an environmental impact statement, the most publicized
clash between astronomers and environmentalist was over a site in Arizona called
Mount Graham, where there was some concerned over an endangered species of squirrel.

Readings

Waldrop, M. "The
Long, Sad Saga of Mount Graham" in Science, 22 June 1990, vol. 248, p.
1479. The story of how a new site for telescopes in Arizona pits astronomers
and environmentalists against each other.

Travis, J. "Scopes
and Squirrels Return to Court" in Science, 2 Sep. 1994, vol. 265, p.
1356. A sequel to the above. (Further updates can be found on the web sites
below.)

Mt.
Graham International Observatory Site
- this official web site for the U. of Arizona, summarizes cultural and legal
issues concerning the observatory site in the Coronado national forest, including
the squirrels issue and concerns by some members of Native American tribes
about disturbing sacred burial grounds

"Star
Gate"
- this article from an alternative news weekly in Phoenix tells the Mt. Graham
story from the point of view of the environmental activists, a radically different
perspective from the astronomers.

Radio astronomer
search for "faint" radio static from cosmic objects. Increasingly, the signals
they are searching for are lost in the "din" of terrestrial radio communications,
particularly the requirements of cellular phones and other modern communications
using satellites. Major political battles loom as the demands of business clash
with the need to protect certain important channels for radio astronomy.

National
Radio Quiet Zone
- a special area has been created around the National Radio Astronomy Observatory
in Green Bank, West Virginia, and this site has a map and some (often technical)
information about it

Committee
on Radio Frequencies
- set up through the European Science Foundation, this group coordinates European
efforts to protect frequencies; its site has many links to activities in this
arena around the world

As our robot probes
travel to the other bodies in our solar system, and even begin to return samples
of these other worlds to Earth, we must confront the issue of planetary contamination.
How do we keep our microbes from hitching a ride to other worlds, and how do
we prevent any possible microbes from Mars or Europa (for example) from returning
to Earth and (possibly) harming life on our planet?

Pendick, D. "The
Real Men in Black" in Astronomy, July 1999, p. 36. Profile of John Rummel,
NASA's Planetary Protection Officer, whose task it is to see that micro-organisms
from other worlds don't contaminate the Earth.

Race, M. & Rummel,
J. "Bring 'em Back Alive (or at Least Carefully)" in Ad Astra (the journal
of the National Space Society), Jan/Feb. 1999, p. 37. [This article is also
available on line; see below.]

Sagan, C., et
al. "Planetary Protection" in The Planetary Report (the magazine of the
Planetary Society), Jul/Aug. 1994, p. 3. Special issue devoted to the topic.

Planetary
Protection Web Pages
- part of a private astrobiology web site by a space enthusiast, these pages
review some of the history (with lunar quarantine and contamination issues),
some of the legal and diplomatic issues , and NASA plans for the future.